A Level Psychology OCR Practice Exam

The strength of Barkley-Levenson and Galvan's research lies in the highly controlled factors such as age and gender that were implemented. By controlling these variables, researchers can minimize extraneous influences that might affect the outcome of the study. This level of control enhances the internal validity of the research, allowing for a clearer understanding of the specific effects being studied.

In psychological research, controlling factors like age and gender is crucial because these variables can significantly influence behavior and cognitive processes. By ensuring that participants are similar in these respects, researchers can confidently attribute differences in results to the specific experimental manipulations rather than variations due to demographic differences. This approach strengthens the reliability and replicability of the findings, making the conclusions drawn from the research more robust.